It was a foregone conclusion well before the end of the year, with temperatures running above normal throughout the year. The official average temperature across the country was 55.3 degrees, 1 degree above 1998, the previous record-holder, and 3.2 degrees above the 20th Century average, NOAA said Tuesday.

For Maryland, the average temperature was the second-warmest in 118 years of record-keeping, behind only 1998, according to NOAA.

Each of the 48 contiguous states had an above-average temperature for the year.

Each state except Washington had a location record its warmest year in 118 years.

19 states, from Utah to Massachusetts, posted a record-warm year.

Since 1895, average temperatures have increased about 0.13 degrees each decade.

2012 was the 15th-driest year on record.

Meanwhile, 2012 weather was notable for other reasons. The 19 named tropical cyclones meant a third straight year with an above-average Atlantic hurricane season.

A widespread drought affected 61 percent of the country at its peak in July, equaling the footprint of drought in the 1950s. The warm and dry conditions contributed to above-average wildfire activity, with 9.2 million acres burned, third-most in 13 years of record-keeping.

Tornado activity, however, was abnormally low. The final 2012 tornado count is expected to be under 1,000, while the average from 1991-2010 is 1,200 per year.